The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Thomas Shaw, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 12 August 1881, while serving with Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry, in action at Carrizo Canyon, New Mexico. Sergeant Shaw forced the enemy back after stubbornly holding his ground in an extremely exposed position and prevented the enemy’s superior numbers from surrounding his command.